Latest news with #PunjabiCuisine
Forbes
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Gymkhana Las Vegas, Ambassadors Clubhouse New York
London's opulent Ambassadors Clubhouse will be opening a location in New York's NoMad neighborhood later this fall JKS Restaurants It was through the late Richard Vines—one of Britain's foremost food critics and a dear friend—that I first heard about Ambassadors Clubhouse. On August 25, 2024— the same month the restaurant opened on Mayfair's bustling Heddon Street— he wrote, 'I have a new favorite London restaurant, Ambassadors Clubhouse. It scores, for me, on food, service and ambience, with beautiful designs and a menu full of possibilities. It's the best of JKS restaurants. I was sorry when Momo closed, but Ambassadors Clubhouse is a worthy successor. Five stars.' Naturally on my next trip to London, it was first on my list of places to visit. Like Richard, its menu celebrating the food of undivided Punjab— India and Pakistan— and the shared food heritage (I still think of the velvety Ranjit Shahi prawn curry served with flaky ajwaini warqi naan) blew me away, as did their opulent interiors inspired by party mansions from the region. Now, JKS— the celebrated London-based hospitality group founded by siblings Jyotin, Karam, and Sunaina Sethi— is bringing two of its most popular restaurants to the United States. In the fall, Ambassador's Clubhouse will make its debut in New York, opening at 1245 Broadway Street in Manhattan's NoMad neighborhood—a few blocks away from Madison Square Park. Named after the Sethis' grandfather, a former Indian Ambassador, the restaurant's interiors take inspiration from his summer house in Dalhousie and the abandoned party mansions of Northern India. As in its original London location, it will feature dishes from Punjab's royal kitchens and street and roadside eateries, with a cocktail program centered on mezcal and tequila. In the winter, London's two-Michelin-starred Gymkhana will open at Las Vegas' Aria Resort and Casino JKS Restaurants In the winter, JKS' notoriously hard-to-book two-Michelin-starred Gymkhana will open at Las Vegas' Aria Resort and Casino. Inspired by the private clubs of India, Gymkhana Las Vegas will bring this tradition to the Strip with polished dark timber and printed textiles inspired by the Sethis' childhood trips to Delhi's gymkhana clubs, and grand residential mansions from Kolkata to Pondicherry. Gymkhana Las Vegas will feature menu of the London outpost's signature dishes including their tandoori specialties like the classic tandoori lamb chops JKS Restaurants Its cuisine takes influence from Indian classics, building on bold flavors and layered spices, and the Las Vegas menu will feature many of Gymkhana London's signature dishes, including tandoori specialties, curries, biryanis and chaat-style sharing plates. The restaurant's bar will feature Indian-inspired cocktails, including regional punches served table-side, and an extensive gin and tonic selection. Following the opening of the Las Vegas restaurant, JKS will also launch Gymkhana Fine Foods in the US— a premium range of at-home Indian cooking sauces and marinades crafted by the same chefs and using the same recipes. JKS Restaurants' Karam, Sunaina and Jyotin Sethi JKS Restaurants 'We have had our sights set on the US for the last 10 years — wanting to make our entry with the right brands, in the right cities, at the right moment,' Karam Sethi says in a statement. 'Ambassadors Clubhouse and Gymkhana are expressions of who we are and we are excited to connect with a new community of guests. We join the market at a time when the interest in Indian cuisine and culture is growing rapidly, and we look forward to contributing to this momentum by raising greater awareness of regional Indian cuisine.'
Khaleej Times
23-06-2025
- Khaleej Times
Food Review: This Punjabi eatery's iconic 'Butter Chicken' dates back to 1962
There's butter chicken, and then there's Baba's butter chicken—the kind that doesn't just feed your cravings but stirs something ancestral in your soul. Tucked along Dubai's ever-busy Sheikh Zayed Road, Baba's Chicken may be a new entrant in the city's dining scene, but its roots run deep. Established in 1962 in Ludhiana, India, by the late S. Himmat Singh—affectionately known as Baba Ji—this iconic Punjabi kitchen has been lovingly nurtured across generations. Today, his grandson Avneet Singh leads the legacy, expanding its delicious footprint from India and Canada to the Middle East. So how does a storied North Indian eatery translate its magic in a city as diverse and discerning as Dubai? Flawlessly, almost. I heard about Baba's from a Punjabi friend who swears by it—someone who grew up on the stuff, and when he called it 'the best butter chicken this side of Amritsar,' I knew my healthy-diet wagon could withstand a cheat day. Or two. The vibe From the moment you walk in, there's a sense of bustle and warmth. It's not trying to be fine-dine fancy, nor is it a grimy takeaway joint—it hits the sweet spot: a vibrant, nostalgic space (with descriptive interiors) that smells like tandoor smoke, simmered spices, and hospitality. The feast Let's start with the starters. I skipped salads—because cheating on a cheat meal felt like treason—and eased in with papad, raw onions, and that zippy green chutney that slaps you awake. The Mutton Seekh Roll outshined its chicken counterpart with flavourful tenderness that held its own without being too heavy. The Dahi Ke Kebab—recommended by the server—were a surprise winner. Crisp outside, creamy and tangy inside, they're a vegetarian flex that even carnivores won't mind. For mains, I veered off the expected path and ordered Tawa Mutton Tikka. This dish deserves more PR. Rich, deeply spiced gravy and mutton that melted like it had somewhere better to be. I mopped it all up with piping hot butter naan, of course. We also tried the Baba's Fried Fish (BFF)—a golden, crunchy, moist marvel with the right hit of spice. But the star, naturally, was the Baba Special Butter Chicken. The gravy was luscious and balanced—creamy, tomatoey, not overly sweet. While the chicken itself could've used just a bit more tenderness, the overall dish still hit all the comforting, addictive notes you'd expect from a recipe that's been fine-tuned for over six decades. Dessert was where they sealed the deal. The Ras Malai was soft and delicately spiced, the Gulab Jamun warm and syrupy, and both together had me wondering why I ever gave up sugar. And yes, they serve lassi—because what's a Punjabi feast without one? To sum it up: Baba's Chicken isn't really trying to reinvent North Indian cuisine; instead, it celebrates it and presents it with unpretentious flair. It's a place for comfort, for nostalgia, for unfiltered indulgence. Whether you're Punjabi or not, this is the kind of food that speaks your language. Verdict? Come for the butter chicken. Return for almost everything the place offers.
